James GARDINER was b. ~1825, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland, son of James GARDINER and Annie SCOTT and married in 1845 at Dunning, Perthshire, Scotland to Margaret TAYLOR, b. ~1828 Dunning, Perthshire, Scotland, daughter of Henry TAYLOR and Margaret DREW. The family arrived with 3 children at Portland, S-W Victoria on the "John Davies" in 1852.

The family remained at Portland for a few years during which time another 4 children were born before they moved north to Digby & Merino by 1861 where another 6 children were born. James GARDINER was recorded as a shoemaker at Merino in 1867.

Margaret GARDINER died and was buried at Sandford, near Casterton, S-W Victoria in 1895. Her husband James died in the Wimmera in 1903 and his body brought back to Sandford for burial.